Dems: Boulton: Here’s how to provide all working Iowans with paid family leave

State Senator Nate Boulton of Des Moines has introduced legislation to provide 12 weeks of paid family leave for working Iowa families. The leave would be available when Iowans must care for a family member with a serious health condition or to bond with a newborn, adopted, or foster child. The bill also provides for paid medical leave for a personal serious health condition.

“This is the first bill of its kind in the Iowa Senate,” said Boulton. “This paid family leave benefit would be funded by employee and employer contributions to an insurance account managed by the State Treasurer.”

Based off the federal Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, Senate File 2133 would offer Iowans the flexibility to plan for their futures. After up to 12-weeks of paid time off for family issues, Iowa workers would be able to come back to return to a stable job with the same pay and benefits as before.

“Improving the lives of working Iowans will help our state attract and keep skilled workers,” said Boulton. “That would do much more to grow Iowa’s economy than throwing millions of dollars in tax credits, exemptions and giveaways to wealthy corporations.”